Defining moment.

[inlinefour]

Many of you know my account here at KBer, but I have only met a few others here and hopefully that'll increase in time. I used to be rather fond of restoring motorcycles, but sadly was selling them to finance my lodging arrangements at the time. I used to restore 1970s CB/IL4s, hence my username. As some of you might be aware from my ramblings, I've reciently been purchasing more bikes for this purpose. To the point that I wondered if I was having a manic phase of bi-polar. Was mostly due to the boredom of being at home, injured and not working. Yea my b/s content probably increased also, but its all in jest eh. Anyway like I was saying, I did up old Hondas. Why? Because they allways brought me the return I was after and I could at that time get genuine Honda parts rather cheap. However there was allways a thorn in my side when it came to the bikes that I'd worked on and then sold. I had a nice original CB350/4 that had been one of the test bikes made in 1971, before the model was produced for sale. The story I was told was that Honda tested their bikes in New Zealand, if this is true I know not. Hopefully someone here can shed some light here regarding that. Anyway I made some money and forgot about that bike, so I thought. However to this day I wish I'd kept that bike as I had some sort of bond with it (do I need help?). Anyway, one came along yesterday and I noticed it today. I jumped at the cellphone and managed to purchase red 350/4, with the original exhausts! I'm happier than a pig in shit now and have lost the want or need to buy more bikes.

[John Banks]

I'm happier than a pig in shit now and have lost the want or need to buy more bikes.

Say it again next year

[inlinefour]

Say it again next year

I've been trying to make up for it. Did not know what it was until I purchased this bike. The balance has been restored.

[John Banks]

I'll look forward to it - nothing wrong with more bikes. Well done on the purchase

[SN4PD]

As JB said, WD IL4

[Smorg]

well done on the bike.............................................mutter mutter mutter

[Hitcher]

I remember studying in great detail a Honda 350 four in Ash King's showroom in 1972. A true work of art, I thought then. And still do. Although its bigger 750cc brother is more famous, and not-so-much-bigger 500cc brother funkier, I think that the 350 has an X-factor that makes it a true classic.

I was desperately smitten until I set eyes on a Kawasaki Z900. In dark green.

[inlinefour]

I remember studying in great detail a Honda 350 four in Ash King's showroom in 1972. A true work of art, I thought then. And still do. Although its bigger 750cc brother is more famous, and not-so-much-bigger 500cc brother funkier, I think that the 350 has an X-factor that makes it a true classic.

I was desperately smitten until I set eyes on a Kawasaki Z900. In dark green.

Was most impressed to see this for sale, although I'm poor now so hopefully it goes to a good home...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=56083808

Very very nice, even for a Kawasaki

[Insanity_rules]

I can understand compulsion like that. I have one for VT's, Have had 3 of them including my current VTZ. Love lil honda twins for sound, low down grunt and cornering speed. Every time I see one on tard me I want to buy it.

Help me I'm a sick man.................

[Storm]

Happy to hear you have scratched the itch ( as I am sure the bank manager is too !!!! )
Have a great time with it mate. You'll be posting on here trying to find someone to build you a cheap garage soon, what with all the new steeds

[Biff]

Good on you Honda. Enjoy.

I hope to get me an ole shitter to work on one day. I'm pretty much mechanically inept when it comes to motormacycles. So I'd like to get something really simple to begin learning on. Something cheap.

Any suggestions?

[XP@]

To date I have done up two bikes from almost wrecks to, well ridable.

The first was in my early twenties, a son / dad project CB750 1978 i think, it was the first of the DOHC. frame pwoder coated black, engine and all other bits fully polished, head gas flowed, side pannels replaced with stainless (each one took about 2 weeks to make). It was a stunner. Then I went to Uni and had to sell it after about 500 miles

Whilst doing up that bike i was dreaming of one of the new "plastic rockets" that were emerging on to the market (CBR600).

A about 18 months ago I was given an 89 cbr600, it had been neglected for 7 years. 12 months later it was sold as a matt black and silver rocket. also a lot of fun but was so disapointing to ride... been converted to a different style now and it was no longer the bike of my dreams.

But hey, have fun with your IL4's :-) cos they are fun loads of it!

If your in to the CB350's then I know where there is a totally classic, apart from handle bar weight-indicators, sitting as an ornament in a wellington lounge...

[inlinefour]

Good on you Honda. Enjoy.

I hope to get me an ole shitter to work on one day. I'm pretty much mechanically inept when it comes to motormacycles. So I'd like to get something really simple to begin learning on. Something cheap.

Any suggestions?

A single cylinder 2 smoker was what I mucked around with first, then a single 4 stroke. I then jumped to the IL4s, with a couple of twins done somewhere in between. My next tinkering project is the RD350. I just make it a rule to have a workshop manual handy before I do anything to a bike. Oh and I'm never in a rush. Be interesting to see what Mrs IL4 says when she sees a full sized bike in bits. She saw the Z50 stripped, but its not like that took much room eh.

If your in to the CB350's then I know where there is a totally classic, apart from handle bar weight-indicators, sitting as an ornament in a wellington lounge...

Eh, whats wrong with these wellingtonians? Ornamant? I like to think of my bikes as toys, that get played with on a semi regular basis. Reckon they want to donate it?

[XP@]

Eh, whats wrong with these wellingtonians? Ornamant? I like to think of my bikes as toys, that get played with on a semi regular basis. Reckon they want to donate it?

It's worse... he is a german!
He imported the bike as a household effect. And has 2 other bikes to play with, so not too bad, gives something better than the tv to watch in the living room. It goes with the coffee table made out of used tyres.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I share your affliction: something to do with my favourite (and one of my first) "proper" big bikes being a 750F1.

I've got a red 400F supersport which is soooo pretty. goes well.

I would quite like a 550F if one in the right condition and price came along.

mmmm Honda 4's (and 6's) rule.